Test means for paper and currency



25, 1964 F. v. BOOKOUT ETAL 3, 7

TEST MEANS FOR PAPER AND CURRENCY Filed Feb. 27, 1961 INVENTORS Floyd M Bookou/ By R/tham T. Pfluger N .ER

g g 2N6 United States Patent 3,122,227 TEST MEANS FOR PAPER AND CURRENCY Floyd V. Eookeut and Richard T. Piluger, Rockford, IlL, assignors to Automatic Cwteen Company of America, Chicago, 121., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 91,958 7 Claims. (Cl. 194-4) This invention relates in general to a material or currency testing arrangement and more particularly to an arrangement for testing such material in accordance with its characteristic response to different light frequencies.

In its organization the present invention largely comprises novel structure for a currency acceptance unit and constitutes an improvement over the apparatus disclosed in application Ser. No. 744,966, filed on June 27, 1958, now US. Patent 3,108,693, issued on October 29, 1963. That application and applications associated therewith disclose the mechanical structure and the basic circuit arrangements permitting certain currency evaluations to be made. The arrangement by which this is done compri es a horizontal slide having a trough therein into which currency such as a dollar bill is deposited. A door hingedly secured to the slide is closed over the deposited currency and the slide carrying the currency is reciprocated into a test position between certain lamps and light responsive cells. On the slide being operated into the test position, appropriate circuitry is controlled to operate a solenoid, which locks the slide in place. The lamps are then lighted. The light is transmitted in various degrees through respective areas of the currency depending, of course, on the color and value of the respective areas. The light responsive cells underlying the various areas respond to the quantity of light passing through those areas to provide an indication of the acceptability of the currency. Thus these cells are divided into three groups called black, white and green in accordance with the well known characteristics of currency notes. The currency is rejected if either the black or green cells receive more than a predetermined amount of light or the white cells less than a predetermined amount of light. If found unacceptable the slide is released and coin payout prevented. If found acceptable the currency is collected into a cash box on being stripped from the slide. Tins is done by a stripper motor, sole noid and guillotine arrangement which operate as described in the mentioned application. Thereafter a tray clear test as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 28,905, filed on iiay 5, 1969, by Norbert A. Gecewicz and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, may be performed to verify that the note has been collected. A coin payout motor is now energized and it operates a cam or finger in any well known manner to dispense the required coins. The slide is also released arid automatically reciprocated into its unoperated position where it is prepared to receive another deposit of currency.

After the described test apparatus was constructed, it was realized that an extremely accurate, but simple, test could be provided by testing the currency note for its response to various types of light frequencies. Thus each note responds in a characteristic manner to either transmit, absorb or reflect all frequencies, but in different percentages, in a band to which it is exposed and by 3,122,227 Patented Feb. 25, 1964 testing for the various conditions a very excellent test is provided for the validity of the note, as these characteristics are almost impossible to duplicate.

An object of this invention is therefore the performance of a material or currency validity test in which the material is tested for its response to various different light frequencies.

It is another object of this invention to provide a light test for currency or other material in which the material is tested for both its minimum and maximum response to each frequency.

It is another object of this invention to provide for the acceptance or rejection of a bill or currency note in accordance with the percentage of light or other waves of various frequencies passed through the respective areas of a currency note.

It is still another object of this invention to provide for the acceptance or rejection of a currency note in accordance with light of various frequencies reflected from respective areas of said note.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention con sists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of circuits and parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, arrangement and minor details of the structure or circuits may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of this invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, this invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1 of the drawing is an arrangement illustrating the technique of utilizing light of certain characteristic frequencies transmitted through a currency note and a circuit arrangement for use therewith, and

FIG. 2 is an arrangement illustrating the technique of utilizing light of certain characteristic frequencies re flected by a currency note.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there will be seen one embodiment of the invention wherein there will also be seen certain components and apparatus of the type generally shown and described in the aforementioned application, it being understood that only so much of the same is shown as necessary to illustrate the principles of the present invention.

Thus currency note feeler switches 72 and a tray feeler switch 96 are indicated, these being operated when the note and the slide respectively are properly positioned in the test area to operate a lock solenoid 125 which looks the slide in its operated position as described in the aforementioned application.

In addition a start relay 120, lamp 119 and a reset relay 130 together with a timer motor and a constant voltage source 34 are shown, these components being operated in substantially the same manner as described the aforementioned application. Thus the start relay 120 is operated after the slide is locked into the test area 3 and it initiates operation of the timer motor 109, which in turn initiates the test sequences. The reset relay 130 is operated to reset the start relay 120 and the various test apparatus. The timer motor 1% is slightly modified in any well known manner to provide for the required currency test operation.

The lamp 119 is lighted under control of the timer motor 100 and the illumination provided thereby is controlled by the constant voltag supply 34. As may be seen in FIG. 1, this light is transmitted through the note, schematically illustrated at St). The note passes certain frequencies far more strongly than others to the light filters 115, 116 and 117 and the light responsive arrangements 112, 113 and 114 respectively located thereheneath.

Referring momentarily to, FIG. 2, another embodiment of the invention is shown therein utilizing reflected light for the note 50. The circuit arrangement for the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1 and therefore is not illustrated; however, as may be seen, reflected light from note 50 is extended through respective filters 115 and 117 to the respective light responsive arrangements 112 and 114. Material advantage, from the standpoint of sensitivity, is also obtained when the light filtering occurs at the light source, with or without subsequent filtering of the reflected or transmitted light.

Each light responsive arrangement may comprise one or more light responsive cells which may be, for example, of the cadmium sulfide or other type. They are arranged in calculated positions on the side of the note opposite the lamps 119 as indicated in FIG. 1 or on the same side of the note as lamps 119 as indicated in FIG. 2, but in terposed between each cell and the note is a filter 115, 116 and 117, respectively, for peaking the response of the re spective cells to a particular frequency and eliminating the effect on each cell resulting from the passage of a broad band of light frequencies. Thus each filter is designed to all but eliminate a small percentage of light that Would normally pass another typ of filter and thus pass, to a high degree, a narrow band of light of a frequency for which such filters were designed. The cells and filters are, of course, arranged so that minimum interference from stray or incident light occurs and are distributed in accordance with desired areas of light value or coloration in the note. The test area enclosure preferably, of course, is coated or painted to absorb as much incident or stray light as possible. With this arrangement it is possible to test a currency note or other material for certain characteristic light frequencies which are almost impossible to duplicate as each note in each area transmits, absorbs or reflects certain characteristic light frequencies more strongly than others. This permits a discrimination and test to be provided over a large range of frequencies. It will also be understood that although only the arrangements 112, 113 and 114 are indicated, these are of comparatively small dimension and that numerous ones of the same are used and that the angle of the same to this direction of light is arranged to provide the highest response. Even greater discrimination can be effected by the use of more than one filter in combination fnrLher to select the frequencies of light striking the cells thereby to peak various responses available from a single test position. This operates to multiply the number of combinations required to be met for meeting the test.

With resistive type cells, each light responsive arrangement, such as 112, is connected alternatively through maximum and minimum test potentiometers such as 88 and 90 respectively to the Winding of a respective meter relay such as 70. The potentiometers 88 and 90 are adjusted so that with the potentiometer 88 in circuit with the winding 70 it will not close its contact 71 indicating that the amount of light of a characteristic frequency present does not exceed a predetermined maximum amount. With potentiometers 90 in circuit, the meter 70 will close its contacts 71 indicating that the light of the characteristic frequency exceeds a predetermined minimum amount.

Each of the cell arrangements 113 and 114 is provided with a similar potentiometer arrangement indicated at 98, 99, 168 and 109, and meter relay arrangement 75 and 77 respectively and which operate in a sirm'lar manner so that light passage of several different frequencies may be tested for and as many of the same provided as believed necessary. It will be appreciated, of course, that conventional binary type relays may be provided in place of the meter relays and that if desired suitable amplifying circuits may be used.

The various potentials indicated, of course, may be derived in any well known manner and therefore the means for deriving the same are not shown.

A detailed description of the test operation will now be given omitting, of course, certain unnecessary detm'ls such as coin dispensing.

As described, a currency note is deposited in the slide trough and the slide is operated to place the note in the currency test area, at which time the currency feeler switches 72 close and the tray or slide feeler switch contacts 96 also close. A circuit is then completed from the 115 volt A.C. source 35 over conductor 30 and through various coin switches associated with the coin dispensing arrangement and not shown, but indicated by the broken line and through contacts 131, 72 and 96 to lock solenoid 125 and conductor 32. The omitted coin switches are primarily to determine that coins are present in the coin dispenser and that the dispenser is functioning properly. The lock solenoid 125 locks the slide in its operated position as explained in the aforementioned application, and in addition closes contacts 126 to complete a circuit through the start relay 1219 from conductor 30 and contacts 132.

The start relay energizes to close contacts 123 for holding the lock solenoid energized and at contacts 122 initiates operation of the thrust motor 1%. At contacts 121 it provides a holding circuit for itself through contacts 132.

The timer motor 101 initiates its operation to bring its first rotor contact 1111 into contact with conductor 41 and extend power from one side of the A.C. source 35 and conductor 31) to light lamp 119 through the constant voltage supply 34.

With lamp 119 energized, light of various frequencies is extended to the currency note 50; however, the note most strongly passes its most characteristic light frequencies or in the case of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, reflects certain frequencies most strongly.

The respective filters 115, 116 and 117 additionally screen for these characteristic frequencies and each passes most strongly a frequency individual thereto. example, if filter 115 passes light of 5800 angstroms most strongly, light fo predominantly that character falls on the cell arrangement 112 and therefore limits the cell response to light of that character. The quantity of light of that particular character or frequency that is available, however, is dependent on how much passes through or is reflected from the area of the note associated with the particular cell and in this manner the test is conducted for light of several different frequencies characteristics of the note, as cell arrangements 112, 113 and 114 are exposed to the respective light frequencies.

For the first test a maximum value test is conducted. Potentiometers 88, 98 and 108 are each adjusted to limit the current passing through cells 112, 113 and 114 when exposed to light of the respective test frequencies passing through or reflected from a valid note 50. Insuflicient current is therefore extended over contacts 181, 183 and 185 respectively to operate relays 70, 75 or 77 respectively. If, therefore, any of these relays 70, 75 or 77 operate indicating an excessive amount of light of one of the characteristic frequencies, contacts 71, 76 and/or 78 close to energize the bad impulse relay over contacts 187', 188' or 188" and 193 by placing it across transformer 20. Thereafter rotor contacts 102 on motor 100 Thus, for

'en'ga'ge conductor 40 to energize relay 180, which locks operated over contacts 189' and 132. Assuming now that relay 175 was not operated indicating that more than a predetermined amount of light of characteristic frequencies were not transmitted to cells 112-114, the remainder of the test sequence will be described.

Relay 180 now switches each of the meter relays 70, 75 and 77 at contacts 182, 184 and 186 from the respec tive potentiometers 88, 98 and 108 to potentiometers 90, 99 and 109 respectively. At contacts 187, 188 and 189 it switches the test contacts 71, 76 and 78 controlled by relays 70, 75 and 77 respectively from the bad impulse relay 175 to relays 150, 160 and 165 respectively. These otentiometers are adjusted to operate on similar light values that failed previously to operate relays 70, 75 and 77 respectively, to close contacts 71, 76 and 78 respectively. Closure of contacts 71, 76 or 78 now extends one side of the secondary of the 24 volt transformer fed by the AG. source through contacts 71, 76 and 78 respectively to a respect in one of the relays 150, 160 and 170 through contacts 188, 189 and 187 respectively to energize one of the latter relays. Each locks operated over respective contacts 153, 163 and 173.

Thereafter the rotor contact 102 engages conductor 42 to extend power from conductor 30 over contacts 176, 171, 161 and 151 to energize relay 60. Relay locks operated through contacts 63 and 132 and at contacts 61 energizes the stripper motor 145 and relay 190. The stripper motor 145 is operated to strip the note 50 from the slide trough into a collect box, While the stripper solenoid 135 is operated by closure of contact 146 to aid in the operation, as explained in the aforementioned application. Switches 72 open on removal of the note, however, the lock solenoid 125 remains operated over contacts 123.

Relay 190 operates to lock itself energized over contacts 198, 189 and 132. At contacts 193 it opens a point in a possible circuit to relay 175. At contacts 195, 196 and 197 it connects the respective meter relay contacts 71, 78 and 76 to relay 140. At contacts 191', 192' and 194' it connects the respective meter relay windings 77, 75 and 76 through respective high resistors 179 to battery instead of directly thereto through contacts 191, 192 and 194 respectively.

With the note 50 removed from the trough each light responsive cell arrangement 112, 113 and 114 is fully exposed for a tray clear test and it operates the corresponding relay 7t), 75 and 77 to close contacts 71, 76 and 78. This energizes relay 140 over either contacts 195, 196

and/or 197. If deshed, of course, each may operate a separate relay on the tray clear test or the meter relay contacts 71, 76 and 78 may be arranged in a series.

Relay 140 locks operated at contacts 142 and at contacts 1 .1 prepares a circuit for coin disposal. Thus as soon as rotor contact 102 engages conductor 43 a circuit is completed through contacts 177, 172, 162, 152 and 141 to initiate coin dispensing in a manner similar to that described in the aforementioned and other applications.

Thereafter lamps 119 extinguish as the rotor contact 101 disengages from conductor 41. It then engages conductor 45 to maintain motor operated for the remainder of its cycle. Rotor contact 102 energizes the reset relay 130 at conductor 44 and relay 130 opens contacts 132 to release the start relay 120 and relays 60, 180 and 190. At contacts 133 it restores any operated ones of relays 140, 150, 160, 170 and/or 175. The start relay 120 at contacts 123 opens the circuit to the lock solenoid 125 which restores to enable the slide to be reciprocated to its unoperated position for the performance of another validity test.

It will be noted that if the note were invalid that relay 175 is operated by either relays 70, 75 or 77, as explained, responsive to the passage of more than a maximum degree of light of a respective frequency to any cell arrangement 112, 113 or 114. It in turn locks operated at contacts 178 and is released responsive to the subsequent operation of relay at contacts 133 under control of motor 100. Relay 175 in the meantime prevents the completion of a circuit for either stripping the note at contacts 176 or coin payout at contacts 177. Likewise if the note passes less than a predetermined degree of light of the required frequencies, relays 150, or fail to operate and they in turn prevent the completion of the aforementioned circuits at contacts 151, 161 and 171 or at contacts 152, 162 and 172.

If the note is fraudulently prevented from being collected, relay 140 fails to operate due to the failure of the meter relays 70, 75 and 77 operating to close their contacts, when in circuit with resistors 179. The circuits for enabling coin dispensing therefore cannot be completed. Relay 130 operating thereafter under control of motor 100, resets any completed circuits as explained and preparation is made to test another note. The motor 100 homes as explained.

Vfhile the invention has been described with reference to the testing of paper currency, it will be understood that the concepts of this invention will have application to the testing of other sheet material advanced to a position for test whereupon the sheet material is either accepted and removed or else rejected and returned or otherwise disposed of. Such other sheet material may include cellulosic or plastic strips having printing or color designations thereon or therein such as tickets, checks, printed plastics, printed cards or other printed or colored sheet stock.

In accordance with the above, there has been shown and described herein a novel, useful and simple arrangement for testing the validity of a currency note or othe1 material in accordance with the response of the note to certain characteristic light frequencies, but the particular embodiments or forms of the invention described herein are not limitations upon other manners of practicing the invention.

We claim:

1. A currency testing arrangement for determining the validity of a currency note having a plurality of differently colored areas comprising means for transmitting light of a plurality of different frequencies to respective areas of said note, a plurality of light filters each associated with a respective area of said note, and a plurality of light responsive means each associated with a respective filter, each of said filters interposed between an area of said note and the light responsive means associated therewith to transmit to said light responsive means only selected light frequencies.

2. In the arrangement claimed in claim 1, means controlled by a respective light responsive means if more than a predetermined amount of light is transmitted from said note to a respective filter for determining said note is invalid.

3. In the arrangement claimed in claim 1, means controlled by a respective light responsive means if less than a predetermined amount of light is transmitted from said note to a respective filter for determining said note is invalid.

4. The arrangement claimed in claim 1 in which said filters are arranged to receive light reflected from said note.

5. A currency testing arrangement for determining the validity of a currency note having a plurality of differently colored areas comprising means for transmitting light of a plurality of different frequencies to respective areas of said note, light filtering elements each positioned with respect to respective areas of said note for passing therethrough only selected light of respective frequencies, and a light responsive means. individual to each element positioned to receive the light passed through its filtering element, and means controlled responsive to a predetermined amount of light of a selected frequency being trans- 7 mitted by said note to certain ones of said elements and the light responsive means individual thereto for determining said note is invalid.

6. The arrangement claimed in claim 5 in which all of said light responsive means are controlled responsive to a respective amount of light of a respective frequency being transmitted thereto from respective areas of said note for determining said note is valid.

7. The arrangement claimed in claim 5 wherein said note is placed in a test area and coins are automatically dispensed responsive to a determination said note is valid (J and the removal of said note from the test area, means including said light responsive means arranged to verify the removal of said note from said test area and for ermitting the dispensing of coins only if said note is re- 5 moved from said test area.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,919,182 FitzGerald' Fuly 18, 1933 10 2,439,373 Stearns Apr. 6, 1948 2,932,392 Burtner Apr. 12, 1960 

1. A CURRENCY TESTING ARRANGEMENT FOR DETERMINING THE VALIDITY OF A CURRENCY NOTE HAVING A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENTLY COLORED AREAS COMPRISING MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING LIGHT OF A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES TO RESPECTIVE AREAS OF SAID NOTE, A PLURALITY OF LIGHT FILTERS EACH ASSOCIATED WITH A RESPECTIVE AREA OF SAID NOTE, AND A PLURALITY OF LIGHT RESPONSIVE MEANS EACH ASSOCIATED WITH A RESPECTIVE FILTER, EACH OF SAID FILTERS INTERPOSED BETWEEN AN AREA OF SAID NOTE AND THE LIGHT RESPONSIVE MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH TO TRANSMIT TO SAID LIGHT RESPONSIVE MEANS ONLY WELECTED LIGHT FREQUENCIES. 